[Zaq]

My exam is on Tuesday. I failed REG with a 74 about two and a half weeks ago using Becker and NINJA Audio.

I’ve since done the following:

– Rewatched all of the lecture videos (which made 10x more sense then the first go)

– Reread the book in its entirety (paying extra attention to the Tax section). Took a crap load of notes

– Redid all of the Becker Tax HW questions. I took written notes on the problems I did not get write or did not 100% understand.

– Reviewed the Tax Simulations briefly

– Studied all of the Becker flashcards and have a 90% mastery of the items. I also took notes the same as above.

– Memorized all the Becker mnemonics and even added a few of my own (to memorize Gross Income, above and below the line deductions, K1 pass through items, etc.)

– Purchased Wiley and have pushed through about 600 unique questions out of the 1,100 over the course of yesterday and today.

– Fell asleep and took naps listening to Jeff’s NINJA Audio

I’m scoring about 80-90% on Becker Progress Exams and roughly 70% on Wiley Practice exams.

I think getting that 74 has created a lot of psychological damage for me. I know that I’ve gained an even stronger understanding of the items since the last time I took the exam, but if I’m not getting every answer correct I get really upset. I feel like I know all of the concepts of REG in its entirety as a whole so well and even in details. If I get an answer wrong, I’m normally like, “Oh yeah. F***. Yeah, I knew that.”

What would you guys suggest for my final day (tomorrow) for studying/reviewing? I’ve gotten to the point where I can autopilot my way through unique Wiley problems and score roughly in the upper 60’s, but I’ll make very careless errors just because I don’t feel like my brain is all the way there anymore (if that makes sense).

The anxiety is killing me, and the 74 is haunting me like a bad nightmare. Yeck.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[smp73]

I wish I had some advice for you but I am in the same boat. Failed with a 74 a few weeks but my retake is April 17. I've just been telling myself to trust myself, trust all the studying I have done since the 74 and slow down and read the questions. Sounds like you have done a lot of work to prepare for this test…trust that, take your time and just breathe. You can do this!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[Anonymous]

Wow, you have done a lot of work to prepare for the REG beast. My advice is to relax and review your notes. Don't take any more tests.

I am taking my last section BEC on Tuesday and I am burnt out. I took two weeks off of work to prepare and I feel like my brain can not hold any more information. I am going to finish writing out the answers to the questions I missed on my last progress test, review my notes from my live Becker classes and work on reviewing my flashcards I made for the areas I was struggling with and review the written communication answers from the Becker chapters to review key information and understand best practices for this part of the exam.

Best of luck to everyone preparing for their exams!

[Anonymous]

I believe most people who fail the CPA exam (that are on the fence) do so not because they didn't know the material but because they don't read the questions carefully. There is a lot of “trickery” going on in the exams and the examiners go out of their way to mislead you or phrase the questions in obscure ways. You have to really pay attention to the “call of the question”.

I personally never felt that any of the material I studied was very difficult to comprehend. However, I would get burned repeatedly because I read the question too fast and picked the answer that looked like what should be the correct answer rather than what the question was REALLY asking for.

My advice is read every question twice and slowly. Almost purposefully saying every word in your mind so you really “understand” what it is they are asking. You'd be surprised at the improvement. If you're scoring in the 70's then I believe you probably know the material well enough and can certainly pass. Just be more cautious in your test taking. Good Luck.

[Tncincy]

I think dtomasello is right, because, I got tricked a few times with the mcq's because of what I thought it was asking especially those which one is NOT the

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questions. Those that ask the opposite of what we studied and in minds is going to definitely remember only to find the question asked a different way. Yes, read and re-read the questions.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Author]

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